The wireless classroom: A regional picture

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School districts south of Boston have implemented wireless technology in varying degrees, ranging from complete coverage to selected hotspots within the schools. Many have such features as mobile carts that transport wireless devices to classrooms, a bring your own device (BYOD) option, and a 1-to-1 ratio of wireless devices to students.

School district

Wi-Fi

Future plans

Abington

Middle and high schools have full coverage; some classes have laptops, iPads, or netbooks for each student; BYOD encouraged

Developing 1-to-1 capacity

Blue Hills Regional

Full coverage; used for mobile laptops and iPad carts

Expand use

Braintree

Two elementary schools fully wireless, all other schools wireless in designated areas. BYOD not official, but many students do and are allowed access to school network

High school has full coverage and other schools have hotspots for administration only; new Wi-Fi system in high school includes employee network; iPad and laptop carts

Looking to implement BYOD in high school and get coverage in middle schools next year, eventually in all of the schools

Bristol-Plymouth Vocational

Full coverage; mobile laptop and iPad carts; students can sign devices out from library; access for guests and faculty; Apple TV

Investigating BYOD

Brockton

All schools have full coverage; used for mobile laptop and tablet carts and personal devices.

Expanding number of laptops and tablets

Canton

One elementary school has 85 percent wireless coverage; other schools have spot coverage.

Planning for expanded wireless, but nothing finalized

Dedham

Full wireless coverage in the high school and one elementary school; remaining schools have some coverage; some 1-to-1 devices at the high school

District is looking to strengthen wireless and purchase iPads

Duxbury

Schools have full coverage, used for laptops and iPads; BYOD in high school with permission

Expanding number of laptops and tablets

East Bridgewater

Center School and Middle School have full coverage; used in computer labs; iPads used with special needs students

New high school will be fully wireless; expanding to laptop and iPad carts; investigating BYOD

Foxborough

Limited Wi-Fi hotspots in all five schools (none in classrooms); iPads for some administrators and special needs students

Looking to get high school fully covered next year and build infrastructure to support Wi-Fi

Foxborough Regional Charter

School is fully covered; used for Web-based applications in various classes

Not decided

Hanover

All schools have coverage; every teacher has a laptop; students use on restricted, case-by-case basis

Not decided

Hingham

Two of four elementary schools fully wireless; limited wireless in remaining schools

New, fully wireless middle school to open in fall 2014; wireless capabilities in the former middle school will be distributed to elementary schools; high school will double wireless capability by fall 2014

Middleborough

Complete coverage in high school where all teachers have laptops; hotspots in other 4 schools

Make all schools fully wireless; working toward 1-to-1 system

Milton

Tucker Elementary School wireless; numerous 1-to-1pilot programs in place

All schools will be fully wireless by fall 2013; district will expand 1-to-1 program during 2014-15 school year.

Norton

Administrative areas and mobile carts with individual wireless

New high school will have full coverage and more laptop carts; administrators will have iPads and teachers will have laptops.

Norwell

High school and middle school full coverage; 1-to-1 pilot with iPads in middle school; teachers have laptops

Push 1-to-1 through all the grades

Norwood

High school and middle school fully wireless; elementary schools and early education center have wireless hot spots.

Technology Advisory Committee formed to study expanded wireless.

Old Colony

All schools have Wi-Fi hotspots in main office and library; iPads and mini computers available

Will expand to 1-to-1 with laptop for each student

Old Rochester

All schools have coverage; teachers have laptops; used for mobile laptop and iPad carts

Investigating BYOD

Pembroke

Full coverage in one of three elementary schools as well as middle and high schools; used for administrator purposes

Investigating BYOD

Plymouth

Middle and high schools have full coverage; all high school teachers have laptops and administrators have iPads; iPad and laptop mobile carts; hotspots at elementary schools

Expand full coverage to elementary schools and add more mobile carts

Quincy

The two high schools and one of its middle schools are fully wireless

All schools fully wireless by September; study more tablet use

Randolph

All schools have wireless, but used primarily by staff rather than students

Investigating BYOD

Rockland

New combined middle-high school has coverage; few Wi-Fi hotspots in elementary; students use iPads and Kindles in the library; mobile laptops carts

Plan to have complete coverage within next 12 months

Sharon

Updated to faster connection districtwide last summer; use mobile laptop carts; piloting iPads for special needs students and in library

Updating two elementary schools to faster system; investigating BYOD

South Shore Vocational

Full coverage; used for mobile laptop carts and 1-to1 iPad pilot program

Will expand 1-to-1 iPad pilot next year

Stoughton

All eight schools fully wireless

Exploring ways to provide more 1-to-1 devices.

Walpole

All eight schools, including the preschool, have wireless access points covering about 80 percent of the buildings.

Hopes to be 100 percent wireless by the 2014-15 school year; including more tablets and wireless devices.

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